Petitions, praying the recognition of their claims for pensions who are sufferers as they allege, by the limitations of an unwise pensionlaw, were presented as follows: By Mr. Thurman: Two petitions of citizens of Ohio. By Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania: A petition of citizens of Pennsylvania. By Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin: A petition of citizens of Wisconsin. By Mr. Conkling: A petition of citizens of the United States. Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Howe presented a memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of Milwaukee, in favor of an appropriation for the removal of obstructions to navigation in the Detroit River, at the Lime Kiln Crossing; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. Petitions, praying to be invested with the right of suffrage, were presented as follows: By Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin: The petition of L. E. De Wolf. By Mr. Kernan: The petition of Jane T. Welton, the petition of Mrs. Elizabeth W. Kennedy, and the petition of Miss Helen C. Kennedy. By Mr. Withers: The petition of Caroline F. Putnam and the petition of Sallie Holley. By Mr. Hamlin: The petition of Lavinia M. Snow. By Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin: The petition of Henrietta J. Partridge. By Mr. Matthews: The petition of Mary V. Griffith and Emeline G. Fawcett, and the petition of Annie II. Lamborn. Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. Mr. Howe presented resolutions of the Workingmen's party of California, in favor of extending government aid in the construction of the Texas Pacific Railroad; which were referred to the Committee on Railroads. Mr. Thurman presented a memorial of Ormond Stone and others, praying the removal of the Naval Observatory at Washington to a healthier and better location, and to secure to it a fire-proof building; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Thurman presented a memorial of the Board of Trade of Cincinnati, Ohio, remonstrating against any modification of the act of December 17, 1872, in relation to the construction of bridges across the Ohio River; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Thurman presented a resolution of the Ohio State Horticultural Society, in favor of the passage of a law providing for the preservation and renewal of the forests of the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture. Leave having been obtained, bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred as follows: By Mr. Bailey: A bill (S. 475) for the relief of William L. Nance; to the Committee on Claims. By Mr. Sargent: A bill (S. 476) to relieve certain legal disabilities of women; to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Sargent: A bill (S. 477) to regulate Chinese immigration; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. By Mr. Ferry: A bill (S. 478) authorizing the Commissioner of Patents to extend the patent of Horace A. Stone for improvement in the manufacture of cheese; to the Committee on Patents. By Mr. McMillan: A bill (S. 479) to amend section four of the act of June 23, 1874, entitled "An act in relation to courts and judicial officers in the Territory of Utah;" to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Teller: A bill (S. 480) to enable the State of Colorado to reclaim certain waste lands; and A bill (S. 481) for the sale of timber on the public lands in the State of Colorado; to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Matthews: A bill (S. 482) for the relief of William H. Nessle; to the Committee on Claims. By Mr. Plumb: A bill (S. 483) to reorganize the Pay Department of the Army; and A bill (S. 484) to authorize the construction of a-bridge abutment and approach within the military reservation of Fort Riley; to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Jones, of Florida: A bill (S. 485) to repeal certain provisions of the acts of Congress making appropriations for the support of the Army, approved June 16, 1874, and March 3, 1875, respectively; to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Voorhees: A bill (S. 486) to extend the provisions of the act of June 8, 1874, in relation to prize-money, to all fleet officers; to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Withers: A bill (S. 487) for the relief of Mrs. Maria B. Wolfe; to the Committee on Claims. By Mr. Kellogg: A bill (S. 488) authorizing mail-steamship service in the Gulf of Mexico, between the port of New Orleans, Louisiana, and certain ports of the Republic of Mexico; and A bill (S. 489) to improve the navigation and to afford protection and security to the shipping-trade and commerce and alluvial lands of the Mississippi River; to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. Dorsey: A bill (S. 490) supplementary to an act entitled "An act in relation to the Hot Springs reservation in the State of Arkansas," approved March 3, 1877; to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Dorsey: A bill (S. 491) to promote the administration of justice in the District of Columbia; to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Sargent: A joint resolution (S. 12) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States; to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. By Mr. Edmunds: A joint resolution (S. 13) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Adams, its Clerk: Mr. President: The House of Representatives has agreed to the amendments of the Senate to the bill of the House (H. R. 1637) to establish post routes in the several States herein named; and It has passed a bill (H. R. 2142) to authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the great seal of the United States to a certain document therein stated, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate. The bill (H. R. 2142) last received from the House of Representatives for concurrence was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Mr. Conkling submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That the Committee on be instructed to inquire Draper to into the alleged reinstatement or restoration of the position formerly held by him in the Medical Corps of the Navy, and to report the facts touching his original appointment; any allegations of misconduct on his part, if such there were; the action, if any, of the government or Navy Department therein; his alleged resignation and the facts relating thereto; whether he ceased to be an officer of the Navy. and, if so, when; whether, and, if so, what, proceeding or action designed to effect his reinstatement or restoration has been taken by any officer or department of the government; whether any money has been paid on behalf of the government to said Draper or to his account, and, if so, by whom authorized and paid, and by whom received, and from what fund and the amount thereof, and whether such action as has been taken was and is legal and warrantable. Said committee shall have power to send for persons and papers. The Senate proceeded, by unanimous consent, to consider the resolution; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Thurman and the motion of Mr. Saulsbury, the resolution as amended was agreed to as follows: Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the alleged reinstatement or restoration of Draper to the position formerly held by him in the Medical Corps of the Navy, and to report the facts touching his original appointment; any allegations of misconduct on his part, if such there were; the action, if any, of the gov ernment or Navy Department thereon; his alleged resignation and the facts relating thereto; whether he ceased to be an officer of the Navy, and, if so, when; whether any, and, if so, what, proceeding or action designed to effect his reinstatement or restoration has been taken by any officer or department of the government; whether any money has been paid on behalf of the government to said Draper or to his account, and, if so, by whom authorized and paid and by whom received, and from what fund, and the amount thereof, and whether such action as has been taken was and is legal and warrantable. Said committee shall have power to send for persons and papers, and that said Dr. Draper shall be notified and may be present personally or by counsel, and, if he desires, explain to the committee any allegations of misconduct against him laid before said committee. Mr. Conkling submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire and report whether any, and, if so, what, action has recently been taken by any department or officer of the government designed to reinstate or restore Benjamin P. Runkle to the Army of the United States, and whether such action was warranted by law; also, whether payment, and, if so, what payment or payments of public moneys have been made to or on account of said Runkle, by whom made or authorized, and by whom received, from what fund made, and whether such payment was legal, and whether the United States is indebted or liable to said Runkle for pay or compensation as an Army officer; and, also, whether since an order of dismissal in 1872 (if such an order was made) said Runkle has been an Army officer, or has had a valid and legal claim for pay or compensation. Said committee shall have power to send for persons and papers. On motion by Mr. Burnside that the Senate reconsider its vote on the passage of the foregoing resolution, Ordered, That the consideration of the motion be postponed to to-mor row. Mr. Sargent submitted the following resolution for consideration: Whereas thousands of women of the United States have petitioned Congress for an amendment to the Constitution allowing women the right of suffrage; and whereas many of the representative women of the country favoring such amendment are present in the city and have requested to be heard before the Senate in advocacy of said amendment, Resolved, That at a session of the Senate, to be held on said repre sentative women, or such of them as may be designated for that pur pose, may be heard before the Senate; but for two hours only. The Senate proceeded, by unanimous consent, to consider the said resolution; and On the question, Will the Senate agree thereto? (Yeas.. It was determined in the negative, Nays On motion by Mr. Sargent, 13 31 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the Senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Anthony, Bruce, Burnside, Cameron, of Wisconsin, Dawes, Ferry, Hoar, Matthews, Mitchell, Rollins, Sargent, Saunders, Teller. Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Bailey, Bayard, Beck, Booth, Butler, Christiancy, Cockrell, Coke, Conkling, Davis of West Virginia, Eaton, Edmunds, Eustis, Grover, Hamlin, Harris, Hereford, Hill, Howe, Kernan, Kirkwood, Lamar, McDonald, McMillan, McPherson, Morgan, Plumb, Randolph, Saulsbury, Thurman, Wadleigh. So the resolution was not agreed to. Mr. Saunders submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be, and he hereby is, directed to transmit to the Senate at as early a day as practicable, a copy of the report of the engineer who was detailed to make examination and survey of the Missouri River at and near Omaha, Nebraska, and to report on the damage to navigation and property caused by the recent cut-off in said river; said report to include the probable cost of the improvements necessary to prevent further damage. The Vice-President announced that the morning hour had expired, and called up the unfinished business of the Senate at its last adjournment, viz, the resolution submitted by Mr. Matthews December 6, 1877, declaring how certain bonds of the United States may be paid; and The Senate resumed the consideration of the said resolution; and, The question being on the motion submitted by Mr. Morrill to refer the resolution to the Committee on the Judiciary, After debate, On motion by Mr. Edmunds that the Senate adjourn to Monday next at 12 o'clock, Yeas.. It was determined in the negative,{ { Nays.. On motion by Mr. Sargent, 11 33 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Booth, Butler, Christiancy, Conkling, Dennis, Eaton, Edmunds, Grover, Hamlin, Lamar, Thurman. Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Anthony, Bailey, Bayard, Beck, Bruce, Cameron of Wisconsin, Cockrell, Coke, Davis of West Virginia, Dawes, Eustis, Ferry, Harris, Hereford, Hill, Hoar, Howe, Kernan, Kirkwood, McDonald, McPherson, Matthews, Mitchell, Morgan, Plumb, Randolph, Rollins, Sargent, Saulsbury, Saunders, Teller, Voorhees, Wadleigh. So the motion was not agreed to. After further debate, On motion by Mr. Edmunds, at 4 o'clock and 45 minutes p. m., MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1878. The Vice-President laid before the Senate a letter of the Secretary of War, recommending that when another appropriation is made for the publication of the official records of the rebellion, provision be made in express terms for the rent of an office, as the building now used needs many repairs and is unsuitable for the purpose; which was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. Mr. Dorsey presented a memorial of members of the bar of Fort Smith, Arkansas, praying compensation for services rendered to parties accused and unable to employ counsel in the courts in that place; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Hamlin presented a petition of citizens of Maine, praying the establishment of a post-route from Kingman to Patten, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads. Mr. Hamlin presented a memorial of citizens of Maine, remonstrating against the establishment of a post-route from Kingman to Patten, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads. Mr. Kernan presented a memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of New York, in favor of the passage of a law to authorize the correction of errors in the assessment and collection of duties on imports, whether in favor of or against the government; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Kernan presented a petition of citizens of Oneida County, New York, in behalf of Henry N. Halstead, a soldier in the war of 1812, praying that he be allowed a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. The Vice-President laid before the Senate a letter of the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting, in answer to a resolution of the Senate of December 11, 1877, a communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, making a statement of the facts as regards the location of bands of Ute and Apache Indians at Cimarron, New Mexico, and inclosing copies of all letters, telegrams, and documents on file in relation to depredations of said Indians; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered to be printed. The Vice-President laid before the Senate a letter of the Secretary of War, transmitting, for the information of the Committee on Military Affairs, a report of Assistant Adjutant-General Thomas M. Vincent on the bill (S. 386) to extend the time for presenting claims for collecting, drilling, and organizing volunteers during the war of the rebellion; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. Mr. Hereford presented a resolution of the West Virginia State Grange, in favor of the passage of a law for the removal of all restrictions upon the sale of leaf-tobacco; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Teller presented a memorial of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, remonstrating against the passage of the bill (H. R. 228) to authorize and enable the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to institute and prosecute a suit in the Court of Claims against the Cherokee Nation; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Mr. Bailey presented a memorial of William A. and Adilicia Cheatham, of Tennessee, praying to have refunded them the amount of certain moneys alleged to have been illegally exacted of them by the |